By Guest Blogger Andrea S. Fernandez, MD, Section Head of General Obstetrics and Gynecology and Associate Chief Medical Officer, Wake Forest Baptist Health

Here’s a quick quiz for you: You recently gave birth, and you started having anxiety and heart palpitations. Over time, those symptoms ended—but now you’re experiencing fatigue and weight gain. The experience you’re going through affects 5 percent to 10 percent of women after childbirth. What do you think it is?

If you guessed postpartum depression, you’re wrong.

What the scenario above actually points to is a condition known as postpartum thyroiditis. It is, however, commonly confused with postpartum depression. Fatigue, irritability and unrest are hallmarks of both disorders. Postpartum depression and postpartum thyroiditis also share commonalities in the number of women they affect: postpartum depression can impact nearly 15 percent of women after childbirth; whereas postpartum thyroiditis affects up to 10 percent. Both conditions are often overlooked or blamed on normal hormonal adjustments and sleep schedule changes. Read More

By Guest Blogger Sarah Scott, founder of A Safe Space Playgroup

When I found out I am pregnant with our second child, the first thing I did was tell my husband, the second was to download every pregnancy app I could find. Okay, so maybe that was like number ten on my priority list, but it was definitely imperative that I had the support in place, in addition to finding the right high risk OB. A seasoned pro in pregnancy since my first pregnancy had been a high-risk situation, I wanted to make sure I was not lacking in information or support this time around.

I want to share with you some of the apps I downloaded and help you make an informed decision before you hang your head in shame after buying $30 on apps like I did. Read More

By Rachel Hoeing

A few weeks ago, a group of my girlfriends got into a discussion about "push presents." If you have never heard this term before, it refers to a gift given to a mom (usually by the dad) after giving birth to a child. These presents are traditionally jewelry or a trip.

Well, the discussion got very heated with many different opinions and I could not believe how passionate some people were about this topic! Wow! We had one end of the spectrum with mothers who felt that the gift was well-deserved after nine months of carrying the baby and hours of delivery. They felt that the gift was not only deserved, but expected. Read More

by Rachel Hoeing

It absolutely cracks me up when I hear people say, “Oh, I just loved being pregnant! I felt so full of life and always had a glow about me!” I have no way of relating to those statements. For me, there was definitely not a glow … I was usually white as a ghost because I was nauseous or about to throw up. I also had that horrible pain down the side of my inner thigh, awful back pain, and I felt like I waddled for the last three months.  Read More

by Kristen Bagwell

I was having one of my better mornings...smooth a.m. routine, everyone on time and in a decent mood, and then it happened - a song came on the radio and I was sobbing my eyes out. Normally this happens once in a blue moon but the past 7+ months I have had to allow for hormones <insert eye roll here> and the reactions they cause. During my first pregnancy, I'd have thought "Oh eMm Gee! I am clinically depressed, something must be wrong with the baby" etc etc. Now I give myself a mini-eye roll, reach for the tissues, and let it pass.

There's something hard about adjusting your "normal" even if it's temporary, and even if it's to allow for a happy event. (If you're me, there's also some anxiety, worry that I am doing something wrong, and difficulty accepting that not-like-unpregnant-me is okay for a while.) With all of that said, I wanted to make a list of tips and advice that I wish someone had offered me. Actually, I suppose these are tips and tricks that I have collected over the past 4+ years, but it's nice to have them all in one place. Ready? (and then you can add yours as "comments" below!) Read More

By Rachel Hoeing and Guest Blogger, Patrice Williams

Our sister site, Triad MOM, held their very first Mother of the Year contest  in May.  Patrice Williams was crowned the Triad MoM Mother of the Year, and once everyone read her story, they quickly learned why.  Patrice has experienced an amazing journey during her time on this earth and we all have something to learn from her experiences.  Although the journey has been tough, Patrice has found a way to smile and inspire others through her blog.  We wanted her to share her story with all of you in a series of posts.  Today is the first.  After you read this, you will be anxiously awaiting the next. ... Rachel

On Sunday morning, April 20th, 2008, my husband, Matt, and I were sitting in our young couples Sunday school at church and we were watching a video of David Ring. Do you know him? He is an amazing man, afflicted with Cerebral Palsy since birth, with an amazing story. The short version of his story is that he had a very hard childhood, his mother being his best friend and greatest (and many times, only) advocate in the entire world. On top of his CP and the constant embarrassment, ridicule, and discouragement he endured, he became an orphan at the age of just 14 years old. Passed around from family to family, rejected and alone, he struggled to know if life was worth living. (Spoiler alert: he decided it was and has a wonderful life today!)  Read More

by Kristen Bagwell

We currently live in the land of scary. As in, everything is. (Scary.) Especially if you're three...excuse me, three and a HALF. For my part, I cannot figure out what the heck is going on.

As recently as 2 weeks ago, my daughter was taking off throughout the house - with permission or not -  to do whatever, whenever. At her preschool, they allow a fair bit of freedom as far as going to put your things away without a chaperone, going to the potty with teachers waiting outside, and she's fine there. However, in the past week, my little daredevil (who still wants to dive off the back of the couch and cross the monkey bars by herself) is now terrified of everything. For example: Read More

by Kristen Bagwell

So we're back from a week of vacation and the kids are all in bed: the 3-year old kid, the 40-year old kid, and the furry 95-lb kid, all out cold at 9:20pm. Phew. As I sat in the quiet watching Mrs. Doubtfire for the 487th time, visions of laundry dancing in my head, I found myself wondering...when did vacation become so tiring?  Read More

By Katie Moosbrugger 

I have a couple of friends expecting babies any minute now which means I’ll be busier than normal in the kitchen. And that’s just fine with me. Any new mom knows receiving a home cooked meal the first few weeks after delivering a baby is one of the best gifts you can get!  Read More

By Rachel Hoeing

Today’s post is not only for new moms. Today we need a collaborative effort from all you veteran moms, too! New moms need help when it comes time to register for baby gear. I have compiled a list of the top items recommended from some of our readers. These are just suggestions, and we know that every family has different priorities, so please add your thoughts by commenting below and letting us know what baby items you loved and which ones were a flop. New items are constantly coming out, so if you recently registered, please share any new items with us that you added to your list. Here are our MUST HAVES: Read More

By Guest Blogger Barbie Pilla

A few months ago, www.AllModernBaby.com contacted us and asked if we could do a review of some of their products. Since most of their products are geared towards infants and toddlers (and our children are older than that), we asked loyal reader Barbie P (mother to a three-year-old and a seven-month-old) to seek out some fun items, try them out with her daughters, and write about her experiences. Here's what she had to say! - KM Read More

By Rachel Hoeing

When your first friend finds out she’s pregnant, it creates a snowball effect. Before you know it, everyone is having babies, which also means everyone is having baby showers! Whether you are attending a shower for a first-time mom, a veteran mom, or a mom of an adopted child, you want your gift to be one that is not only appreciated, but remembered! Read More

By Guest Blogger Jamie Southern

If you have children, then your life has been touched by the March of Dimes. The March of Dimes is all about babies – those born healthy and those that need help to survive and grow. It’s an organization that advocates for the needs of moms and babies. This organization is trying to make sure that all babies are born healthy by preventing birth defects and prematurity and eliminating infant mortality. The March of Dimes’ largest fundraiser each year is the March for Babies walk. The 2010 Winston-Salem walk will be held April 17th at Bolton Park. Read More

By Cherrie Welch, M.D., M.P.H. Neonatologist and Pediatrician at Brenner Children’s Hospital

One of a mother's first decisions is "Should I breastfeed my new baby?" There are many opinions as to what choice a new mom should make. As a pediatrician and neonatologist, I am always encouraging new mothers to breastfeed their infants. In my opinion, it’s one of the most important first decisions a new mom makes and can significantly impact how a baby develops and grows. Read More